Electric-switch attachment



C. G. FISHER ELECTRIC SWITCH ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 30, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fi m 0. Ma-

A TTORNEY Jan." 15, 1929.

C. G. FISHER ELECTRIC SWITCH ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 30, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 2 CARL 611 /8/15 INVENTOR A TTORNEY Jan; 15,1929.

c. s. FISHER ELECTRIC SWITCH ATTACHIENI and Sept. 30, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 3 CARL G. ilS/IER INVENTOR 7%. f- Mn...

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

CARL G. FISHER, OF PORT W'ASHINGTGN,

series.

IIE'LV YG AEPBIGIJQR OF ONE-THIRD TO THOMAS XV. MILTON, OF PGRTXVASHINGTQZI, NEX -f YORK, AND ONE-THIRD TO JOHN P. NIKONOW, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIG-S'WITGH ATTACHHIENT.

Application filed September 30, 19554.

My invention relates to electric switch attachments and has a particularreference to switches controlling electric lights, ignition, signallingapparatus, etc. on moving vehicles, such as automobiles and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide an electric switch attachmentdirectly on a steering wheel so that the driver could operate theseswitches with his fingers without losing or changing his grip of thewheel.

I am aware that switches have been invented for mounting on top of thesteering column, but such switches do not move with the wheel and,consequently, can not be operated with the same hand with which thewheel is being turned; while with my switch attachment the drivercan useboth his hands for operating the wheel, using at the same time one ofhis fingers to operate any of the switches,-for instance, to dim theheadlights or to press the horn button.

In order to maintain an uninterrupted electrical connection between myswitches and the electrical apparatus controlled by these switches, Iprovide sliding contacts between the leads coming from the switches andthe stationary leads on the steering column, covering these contacts soas to protect them from dust and moisture.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specificationanddrawings in which F 1 is a plan view partly in section of my switchattachment on a steering wheel, Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of sametaken on the line 2-2 (Fig. 8), Fig. 3 is adetailed View of the contactsprings, Fig. 4 is an end view of these contacts, Fig. 5 is a sectionaleleva tion or" the contact arrangement, Fig. 6 is an elevation of samefrom another side, Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of same taken on theline 77 (Fig. 5), looking from the top, F 8 is a sectional elevation ofa modified arrangement, and Fig. 9 is a section 9-9 (Fig. 8) lookingfrom the top of same. Fig. 10 is a sectional detailed view of collectorrings, Fig. 11 is a View of the contact arrangement looking from thebottom, and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the collector sleeve.

My electric switch consists of a housing 1, cast integrally with spokes2 of a steering wheel 3, or attached to them by means of screws or bolts(not shown). The housing contains a number of individual switches l,

Serial No. 740,776.

5 and 6, also contact buttons 7. An ordinary arrangement for anautomobile would be to have switch t for main headlights, switch 5 fordin d lights also for the tail lamp, switch 6 for the ignition circuit,and the contact button 7 for the electric horn. it is evi dent, ofcourse, that any other arrangement of switches may be used.

The housing 1 has an elongated form and is made substantially concentricwith the rim of the wheel, being placed at such distance that it docsnot interfere with the drivers hand. being at the same time within easyreach for the outstretcaed thumb. This arrangement is illustrated in F 1which shows the drivers hand operating the wheel withhis thumb pressingthe horn button 7.

The switches 4-, 5 and 6 may be of any standard construction, but Iprefer to use so called toggle switches, provided with tilting haudles8, so that the switch is closed with the handle in one position (forinstance, when tilted to the right, as shown in Fig. 1 or 2), and openedwhen tilted to the left (as shown with dotted lines in Fig. 2).

Leads or insulated wires 9 are brought from the switches and buttonsunder the spoke or" the wheel in a pipe or conduit 10 and are connectedwith corresponding contact springs or brushes 11, each brush beingconnected with one of the switches. The brushes are fastened to aninsulation bar 12 (shown in detail in Figs. 3 and and this bar isattached with screws 13 to bosses or projections 14- iormed at the openportion of a sleeve or skirt 15 attached to a hub 16 of the wheel bymeans of screws 17. The contacts are protected with a metal cover 18attached to the skirt or collar) 15 with screws 19.

The contact brushes 11 may be providet with stifiening steel springs 20placed under the heads of fastening screws 21. The ends of leads 9 arefastened to the brushes with the same screws 21.

The contact brushes 11 are adapted to touch corresponding contact rings22 with insulation spacers 23 between them and ihsulation rings 24 atthe ends, mounted on an insulation sleeve 25. The sleeve is placed on ametal sleeve or bushing 26 wi h a shoulder 27 and a clamping nut 28which holds the whole collector assembly together. A sawcut 29 separatesthe lower portion of the sleeve 26 which is split open at the middle,

the ends 4 5 being turned out and provided with holes for screw or bolt30. A clamping arrangement is thereby formed adaptedto hold thecollector assembly tight on a sta tionary tube 31 of the steering post.A clamp is provided at the opposite side ot the sleeve for holding oneend of a conduit 33 for stationary leads 36L. ihese le ds are broughtthroun'h slots in the IlllZS 22 and x4 :3 24, each lead being thensoldered or other wise attached to a corresponding collector" ring 22.

Yv'ith this arrruigeinent each switch is a l? ways in contact with acorresponding appa ra-tus (such as a lamp horn, etc.) and remains in acontact for all positions of the steering wheel 3.

The switch housing 1 is placed in such p osition that itrdoes notinterfere with levers and 3,6 sliding along a sector 3? and controllingthe spark adv ce of the motor and its throttle valve. Theh 16 is mountedon the end of a tubular steering rod 41% by means of a nut.

'lhe conduit 33 is ide of the steering post and lS'YOUQl-li) heel: otthe instrurnent heard 38 where the leads 9 are connected to main leadsconnect i rat-us. The other contact of each switch is simply grounded inthe switch itselt which is in a permanent metallic connection with theframe of the automobile through spo''"s wheel and through the rest orthe steering inechanisin.

T his arrangement is generally ,used on automobiles when one pole of thestorage battery is grounded on the frame of the machine. Of course, insuch cases when the whole circuit is completely insulated, a return leadshould he brought from the switches to the batter" this lead beingcommon to all of them.

A modified arrangement is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Here aditt'erentcollar 39 is shown attached to the hub 16, the lower extensionof this collar supporting the collector assembly with. contact rings 22.The leads 9 "from the switches are connected with, corresponding rings,the latter turning with the steering.

wheel. A sleeve ll), attached to the tube 31 ot the steering post withscrews ll encircles contact rings are stationary and the hi theelectrical appzu the collector rings.

of the collar 39 protects therings from dust and inoistur One side ofthe sleeve 40 is open and provided with a boss sunpo 1 an insulationplate 12 with contact brushes ll the brush arrangement similar to theone previously described. A cap 18 is attached to the sleeve to withscrews (not shown), protecting the brushes. connected with correspondingbrushes and are placed in a conduit 3%} The. essential dill'erencebetween the tvo modifications described that in one case the. shes turnwith the whee-h while in the other case the rings turn and the brushesare stationary, there bein no. diti'erence ior the operation of myswitchhow this r tive. ino

-linportznit anvantages ot inv switch are 1 tnet it is verv convenientfor its operation and 4.! W T, w." n1 A H .L c 1, t1 Lilou/ 10 omo cs L1c saiety in c iving, as e driver can retain full control of the vehiclewh'le dinnning his light. ror passinganother vehicle at night, orblowing the horn when there are people on the road in front ot him.

I claim my invention:

In an electric switch attachment, the combination with atuhifar memberof means to support said member on the out 'de a stationary steeringpost of an automobile, a layer of insulation on said tubular member, aplurality of collector rings on said insulation, a plurality ofinsulated wires extending from said collector rings on the outside ofsaid steering poet a tubular cover enclosing said collector rings on theoutside and spaced therefrom, means to attach the upper portion ofsaid-cover to a steering wheel of said automobile, a plurality ofcontact members inside 0t said cover and adapted to slidably engage saidcollector rings and a plurality of insulated wires extending from saidcontact ureur hers to a switch on said steering wheel,

Signed at Port l Vashingtou in the county of Nassau and State ot-llewYork this 22 day of Sept. A. D.

cant e.

An overhanging portion Stationary leads are

